Chapter 40: Escape

Gongyi Xiao asked worriedly, "Senior, can you...can you walk? Do you need me to carry you..."

With a dark expression, Shen Qingqiu took a step forward and leaped out, proving with his actions that he was very good, extremely good!

Gongyi Xiao was taken aback and quickly followed. Unexpectedly, just as the two stepped off the stone platform and onto the stone path, the rising curtain of putrid water suddenly sprayed out with a loud bang.

Shen Qingqiu ran fast and stopped quickly, otherwise he would have been drenched. The two retreated back to the stone platform, but the water curtain gradually stopped.

It's practically determined to keep them from leaving. This is incredibly intelligent!

Gongyi Xiao suddenly realized, "I forgot. Once the water prison is activated, there must be one person on the stone platform. Once that person leaves, the weight on the stone platform will be insufficient, and even if the mechanism is closed, the water curtain will automatically reconnect." He had never had the experience of escaping with prisoners before, so he naturally wouldn't remember such a thing.

Shen Qingqiu said, "So you mean one person has to stay on the stone platform before the others can leave?"

Gongyi Xiao nodded. Shen Qingqiu said, "You stay here."

Gongyi Xiao: "..."

After saying that, he flicked his sleeve and walked out. Gongyi Xiao weakly raised his hand behind him and said, "Senior Shen... although I would be very willing to help, without me leading the way, I'm afraid you won't be able to get out... ah..."

Shen Qingqiu turned around and added, "Wait for me to come back."

Gongyi Xiao stood frozen in place, wanting to follow, but unable to leave the area around the stone platform, he could only wait quietly. After a short while, a muffled thud was heard outside, and Shen Qingqiu dragged someone in by the back of the neck.

Shen Qingqiu dragged the unconscious, pockmarked disciple onto the stone platform, patted Gongyi Xiao on the shoulder, and said, "I just happened to see him on patrol, so I'll borrow him. Let's go!"

Actually, it wasn't "just right". There were four people on patrol, and Shen Qingqiu was hiding in the shadows, but this one was chosen after careful selection!

Gongyi Xiao had also considered grabbing any disciple to use as a weight, but it was only a fleeting thought. Now that Shen Qingqiu had done it himself, without him having to knock out his fellow disciple, he breathed a sigh of relief. The two walked out side by side, and Gongyi Xiao saw Shen Qingqiu pull the black robe he was wearing closer, a lump forming in his throat.

He thought sadly: Senior Shen is the head of a peak, and it is already unavoidable that he has been trapped and humiliated. But now he has to rely on the clothes of someone who disrespects him to cover his body and hide his shame. It is really... really heartbreaking!

Seeing the flicker in his eyes, which seemed to be both sympathy and indignation, Shen Qingqiu could only remain expressionless and unchanging.

Here we go again. He's started again!

Suddenly, Gongyi Xiao said, "Senior, please take it off!"

Shen Qingqiu: "..."

What? !

Before he could react, Gongyi Xiao had already begun taking off his outer robe. Shen Qingqiu was considering whether to unleash a devastating attack on him to see what was going on when Gongyi Xiao presented the robe with both hands, saying, "Please wear this!"

Shen Qingqiu suddenly realized.

Oh! I see. Although Luo Binghe's clothes are black, they reflect his personality—understated yet luxurious and sophisticated, just like the male protagonist himself. Wearing them is still too conspicuous. Changing to white clothes, which have a higher chance of being seen on others, would be more advantageous for escaping, right?

That's so thoughtful!

He decisively took off Luo Binghe's outer garment and put on Gongyi Xiao's. Before leaving, he thought for a moment, then carefully folded Luo Binghe's clothes before placing them on the ground…

Leaving the cave, Gongyi Xiao led the way, and Shen Qingqiu, without needing repeated instructions, followed closely behind.

At first, it didn't seem too difficult to navigate, but the further they went, the more terrifying the Illusionary Flower Palace's maze became. One cave after another, each one a twist of fate, winding and turning until they were dizzy and disoriented. Even though Gongyi Xiao's figure was right in front of them, they almost lost track of him several times. If Gongyi Xiao hadn't been so familiar with the distribution and schedule of the water prison's guards, they probably would have run into several patrolling groups of disciples guarding the maze long ago.

Luo Binghe ordered that no one except him was allowed to secretly explore the water dungeon, which greatly facilitated the escape. Because, as long as he himself didn't come, no one would know that the prisoner had already escaped. Therefore, half an hour later, the two finally circled out of the underground water dungeon and walked several miles without stopping, entering the White Dew Forest. They were almost out of the Illusion Flower Palace's territory, and the water dungeon's alarm bell hadn't rung yet, meaning that no one had discovered the prisoner had escaped.

From this perspective, as long as there is an inside agent with a high enough position and sufficient information, escaping from prison is a piece of cake!

After resting for a while in Bailu Forest, Shen Qingqiu said, "Young Master Gongyi, there's no need to see you off any further. You should go back now before we're discovered."

He paused, then added, "Within seven days, go to Flower Moon City, and you will surely find me there."

Gongyi Xiao said, "Since you've said so, what else can I say? Although I don't know what it is, please be very careful on your journey."

Shen Qingqiu nodded and said, "There is one more thing. Please ask Young Master Gongyi to convey my message to Junior Brother Liu of Hundred Battles Peak. Please ask him to go to Flower Moon City immediately!"

Gongyi Xiao said, "I will definitely pass on the message. As for the joint trial of the four factions a month from now, please rest assured, senior. As you said, the innocent will be proven innocent, and the sect leaders will surely clear your name."

Shen Qingqiu couldn't help but laugh.

First, his dark history can't be erased; second, what does the joint trial by the four factions a month from now have to do with him, hahaha... At that moment, he felt a surge of pride and clasped his hands, saying, "Until we meet again!"

Gongyi Xiao suddenly said, "Wait!"

Shen Qingqiu turned around: "What is it?"

Gongyi Xiao smiled and said, "If we meet again, senior, you must keep your promise and take me to see Qingjing Peak. I've been waiting for you."

After parting ways, Shen Qingqiu flew on his sword for a while and finally discovered a problem.

Starting from the border of the Illusionary Flower Palace and heading towards Flower Moon City, the route passes through the most densely populated and economically developed area in the Central Plains.

These two conditions mean that the density of secular cultivation sects and aristocratic families in this area is very high.

Cultivators in this world place great importance on air defense. Just like in Jinlan City, they usually set up anti-air defense barriers above their territory. If a celestial sword or magical artifact flies by at a speed exceeding the limit, it will undoubtedly be detected and the sect's superiors will be notified.

It's easy to imagine that it was like loudly announcing their escape route through a megaphone.

That means he still has to fly for a while and then walk for a while!

Shen Qingqiu really wanted to slap Xiang Tian Dafei's face repeatedly with all the nonsensical plot points in this book: Are you kidding me?!

Shen Qingqiu worked tirelessly day and night, finally arriving at Huayue City on the third day.

However, his arrival was extremely unfortunate.

It was the city-building festival of Flower Moon City, and the city was brightly lit all night, adorned with lanterns and decorations. Dragon and lion dances filled the streets, accompanied by deafening drums and music. People were packed together, stalls stood shoulder to shoulder, and peddlers wandered everywhere. It was as if almost everyone had come out of their homes.

To make matters worse, when he arrived, the moon was obscured by dark clouds.

Without the blessing of sunlight and moonlight, the chances of failure on this journey would greatly increase. Shen Qingqiu felt it was unlikely and decided to wait for the time being. One day at most. If the clouds and mist didn't dissipate within a day, then he wouldn't care anymore. A higher chance of failure was better than crying over an overripe Sun and Moon Dew Flower, which wouldn't even taste good as a stir-fry or a snack with wine.

Shen Qingqiu walked slowly, occasionally bumping into playful children and passing by laughing girls, feeling a little regretful. If he weren't on the run for his life, he could have enjoyed exploring the city properly.

Suddenly, several men carrying long swords and dressed in uniform walked towards them. They all stood tall and proud, clearly arrogant disciples of a miscellaneous sect.

Strangely enough, the more miscellaneous and minor the sect, the more afraid that others will not know that they are cultivators, and they would rather have the words embroidered on their clothes.

Shen Qingqiu turned around naturally, grabbed a ghost mask from the side, put it on, and walked confidently towards them. Six out of ten visitors at the festival wore masks, so he wasn't afraid of standing out among them.

One of the men said, "Senior brother, is Xiu Yajian really just going to sit here in the city waiting for someone to come and capture him?"

The leader shouted, "A joint arrest warrant issued by the four sects, how could it be fake? Haven't you seen how many sects have sent people to surround us? Keep a close eye on us. You've seen the bounty offered by the Illusion Flower Palace, don't you want it?"

Holy crap, he's wanted! Just how many people have been heading this way without him even knowing?!

"No wonder Illusion Flower Palace is spending so much; they're really in a sorry state..."

Shen Qingqiu thought to himself, "At most I just knocked out a minor disciple of Huanhua Palace, and I didn't do anything else. How did Huanhua Palace become such a pitiful victim?"

He wanted to continue listening, but the group of people walked further and further away. Shen Qingqiu was swept away by the crowd and had no choice but to give up. Just as he was thinking about finding an abandoned house to rest, he suddenly felt a weight on his leg. He looked down and saw a little boy hugging his leg.

The child slowly raised his face, his face pale as if he were malnourished, but his eyes were big and bright. He just stared straight at him and hugged his leg tightly, refusing to let go.

Shen Qingqiu patted his head: "Whose child are you? Did you get lost?"

The child nodded, and when he spoke, his voice was soft and sweet: "We got separated."

Seeing that he was cute and seemed somewhat familiar, Shen Qingqiu bent down, picked him up, and let him sit on her arm: "Who brought you out?"

The child hugged his neck, pursed his lips, and said with a wronged expression, "With Master..."

For some reason, Shen Qingqiu found the child particularly endearing. He patted the soft little bottom and said, "Your master didn't watch you well; you have a terrible conscience. Do you remember how you got separated?"

The child chuckled in his ear, "Master personally struck me down with his palm, how could you not remember?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Qingqiu felt a chill run down his spine.

Shen Qingqiu felt as if he was holding not a child's body, but a venomous snake, a giant snake coiled around his neck, baring its fangs, ready to bite him and inject venom at any moment! He suddenly threw the person in his arms away, and as he turned around with goosebumps all over his back, the hairs on his body stood on end.

Everyone on the street was watching him.

Those wearing masks and those not wearing masks seemed to freeze for a moment, holding their breath as they stared at him.

Those wearing masks have hideous and terrifying faces; but those without masks are even more unsettling—they have no faces!

Author's Note: Thank you to 16266031, 冒泡的豆豆Gn for the grenade, and to 宿世凡尘纪无双, 夜恋, Coer, 掰花生, orli, 果小园, 鹿光, 让我做个安静美男子, 16266031, and nian·KuroshiGn for the landmine!

Hope there are no typos today. Oops. I'll reply to the comments later, thanks everyone!